Diminished sixth
{{Infobox Interval
|main_interval_name = Diminished sixth
|inverse = augmented third
|complement = augmented third
|other_names = -
|semitones = 7
|interval_class = 5
|just_interval = 192:125,Haluska, Jan (2003). The Mathematical Theory of Tone Systems, p.xxvi. {{ISBN|0-8247-4714-3}}. Classic diminished sixth. 32:21,49:32
|cents_equal_temperament = 700
|cents_24T_equal_temperament = 700
|cents_just_intonation = 743
}}
File:Diminished sixth on C.png
In classical music from Western culture, a diminished sixth ({{audio|Perfect fifth in equal temperament.ogg|Play}}) is an interval produced by narrowing a minor sixth by a chromatic semitone.Benward & Saker (2003). Music: In Theory and Practice, Vol. I, p.54. {{ISBN|978-0-07-294262-0}}. Specific example of an d6 not given but general example of minor intervals described.Hoffmann, F.A. (1881). Music: Its Theory & Practice, p.89-90. Thurgate & Sons. Digitized Aug 16, 2007. For example, the interval from A to F is a minor sixth, eight semitones wide, and both the intervals from A{{music|sharp}} to F, and from A to F{{music|flat}} are diminished sixths, spanning seven semitones. Being diminished, it is considered a dissonant interval,Benward & Saker (2003), p.92. despite being equivalent to an interval known for its consonance.
Its inversion is the augmented third, and its enharmonic equivalent is the perfect fifth.
"Wolf fifth"
{{Main|Wolf interval}}
A severely dissonant diminished sixth is observed when a fixed-pitch instrument limited to twelve notes per octave is tuned using Pythagorean tuning or a meantone temperament with a fifth flatter than 700 cents. Typically, this is the interval between G{{music|sharp}} and E{{music|flat}}. Since this interval was considered to "howl like a wolf" (because of the beating), and since it sounded like a badly out-of-tune fifth, this interval is called the "wolf" fifth. A justly tuned fifth is the most consonant interval after the perfect unison and the perfect octave.
References
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